investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈve-stə-ˌgāt 
investigated; investigating
: to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry
: to make a systematic examination
especially
: to conduct an official inquiry
Synonyms
Examples of investigate in a Sentence
The police are still investigating the murder.
The accident was thoroughly investigated.
The manager promised to investigate when we pointed out an error on our bill.
He was investigated for his involvement in the incident.
Recent Examples on the Web
Easter Island genomes To investigate Rapa Nui’s history further, researchers sequenced the genomes of 15 former residents who lived on the island during the past 400 years.
—
Katie Hunt, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024
Police don’t believe the threat to be credible but are continuing to investigate the post’s origin.
—Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2024
No other victims have come forward since detectives began investigating, Sutter said.
—Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2024
This spring the Pennsylvania Senate ethics committee declined to investigate a complaint related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election brought against Mastriano by a fellow senator.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for investigate 
Katie Hunt, CNN, 14 Sep. 2024
Police don’t believe the threat to be credible but are continuing to investigate the post’s origin.
—Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2024
No other victims have come forward since detectives began investigating, Sutter said.
—Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2024
This spring the Pennsylvania Senate ethics committee declined to investigate a complaint related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election brought against Mastriano by a fellow senator.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for investigate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'investigate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near investigate
Cite this Entry
“Investigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/investigate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈves-tə-ˌgāt
investigated; investigating
: to study by close examination and systematic inquiry
Etymology
from Latin investigare "to track, investigate," from in- "in, toward" and vestigium "footprint" — related to vestige
Word Origin
A detective investigating a crime may find the criminal by following clues. In much the same way, a hunter may find game by following tracks. The origins of the word investigate show how fitting it is to compare the detective to the hunter. The Latin word vestigium meant "footprint, track." Joined with the prefix in-, the noun vestigium gave rise to the verb investigare. This word meant both "to track or trace by footprints" and "to study or examine closely." Only the second meaning was kept when the verb was borrowed into English as investigate.
Legal Definition
investigate
verb
in·ves·ti·gate
in-ˈves-tə-ˌgāt
investigated; investigating
: to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry
specifically
: to make (a criminal suspect) the subject of inquiry and study for the purpose of establishing probable cause
: to make a systematic examination
especially
: to conduct an official inquiry
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